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Center for Jewish Genetics blog

The Sarnoff Center has previously cautioned that
direct-to-consumer genetic tests, such as those sold by 23andMe, provide
incomplete and potentially misleading information about health risks. Now, 23andMe
ancestry testing is also raising eyebrows for telling some users with Ashkenazi
Jewish heritage that they descended from an extinct tribe in Central Asia
rather than the region now known as Israel in the Middle East.

Forward.com
ran a breaking news story last week explaining how the report impacts Jewish
identity on both a personal level and a societal level. The idea that Jews
descended from the nomadic Khazar tribe, known as the Khazar theory, has been
discredited by geneticists and historians alike.

23andMe has since removed the theory from genetic reports.

Our takeaway? Ancestry testing can provide valuable
information to help users connect with long-lost relatives. And, while some
users may also gain insight into their family’s possible geographic origins
through ancestry testing, we recommend proceeding with caution. Test results
may provide unexpected – or in this case, even unfounded – information.

What is the most valuable gift you can give to your family? The gift of good health! There are many health conditions that run in families. Knowing your family health history can alert you to the potential risk for a variety of
genetic disorders
. Be sure to check with your relatives for warning signs and
assess your risk
for hereditary cancers!

Did you know: Ashkenazi Jews are 10 TIMES more likely to have BRCA mutations, which significantly increases lifetime risks for hereditary cancers, so what does this heightened risk mean for you?
Click here to learn more
!